Thermo mug test

If you like to have warm coffee or tea with you, and at the same time want to limit the number of single-use packs, you need to invest in an insulated mug. And if it’s also cool outside, such a hot, warming drink is simply irreplaceable. I tested five mugs, checking how airtight they are, how well they hold temperature, whether they can be transported on public transport, and whether they strongly absorb the smell of coffee.

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For testing, I chose five types of cups. Each of them is presented in several color options - I chose the ones that I liked the most. I tested how they keep the temperature by pouring a hot drink into a mug heated with boiling water. I checked if they were tight by flipping them over. I put them in the side pocket of my backpack and left them in the car. I poured coffee into them and checked to see if they were saturated with odors. I tried to hold a cup and at the same time put on a backpack or a bag - this acrobatics is well known to everyone who travels by public transport. At the end, I washed each mug by hand to see how easy it was to remove coffee and milk residue from them. 

1. Thermal mug with lid - unicorn

The mug is made of thick porcelain and the lid is made of flexible and pleasant to the touch silicone. The lid does not have a closing element and resembles classic disposable plastic lids with a small opening. The mug keeps warm for about 2 hours. It can't be put in a backpack pocket, but it fits perfectly in a car stand. Its size is similar to popular paper cups, so it can be placed under a standard coffee maker at any gas station, thus avoiding disposables. This causes some problems in public transport - you need to avoid crowds and pay great attention to keeping the cup upright. This is a great companion for those who forget about freshly brewed coffee and get cold at their desk. The coffee stays warm for a long time. This is the only mug that does not absorb odors and washes perfectly.

I tested a mug covered in glitter. Washed several times - print is in perfect condition. 

2. Thermal mug from a jar - Krecik

Jar cups have an original shape. You can choose from a dozen or so graphics - Krecik is not the only model. The mug fits perfectly in a backpack pocket and in a car holder, it is sealed and safe.

The lid of the cup is equipped with a retractable mouthpiece made of transparent plastic. This is a very popular solution in many water bottles - the cup comes with two tubes that can be connected to the mouthpiece. Thanks to this solution, the cup does not have to be tilted while drinking. However, you must be careful when drinking hot drinks from it. Pulling hot coffee or tea through the mouthpiece can easily burn you.

However, the mug turned out to be an ideal companion for children and not because of Krechik. It turned out that in cold weather, the mug acts as a bottle of water. It is enough to warm it up, and then pour water at room temperature. After three hours of playing outdoors at five degrees Celsius, the water in the cup remained even at room temperature. Thus, it turned out to be the best "all-weather" water bottle.

The thermobarrel is made of steel, so it can be washed without any problems. The only place that needs a lot of attention when flushing is the mouthpiece and the connection between the pipe and the mouthpiece.

3. Shredded thermal mug

The mug has an extremely attractive shape and is available in several colors. The outer layer is made of plastic and the inner layer is made of stainless steel. The plastic cover is equipped with a mechanism that prevents liquid from spilling. The cup can be opened with one hand. It is a lot of fun to open the cup and watch the process of lifting the lid.

Fits in a backpack pocket or on a stand in the car. However, you need to close it carefully, because minimal carelessness leads to the fact that the contents of the cup flow out very slowly. The plastic case makes the mug feel fragile - to my surprise it came out unscathed when it fell to the floor.

The mug absorbs the smell of coffee, but this is a characteristic feature of all stainless steel mugs. It is easy to clean. Keeps warm for about 2 hours.

4. Thermo Mug Stanley

Stanley is a brand known for their excellent quality thermos and this mug proves that. The thermo mug is made of stainless steel. The raw and simple design is reminiscent of other Stanley thermoses. The mug is very tight, so bus acrobatics is very safe. After 4 hours of walking at 5 degrees Celsius, my tea remained hot. I could drink it without taking off my gloves. The manufacturer boasts that the size of the cup allows it to be used with all coffee machines. Indeed, he interacted with coffee machines at gas stations, but in contact with a home coffee machine was too high.

The moment of washing the mug shocked me for a moment - it turned out that the lid can be unscrewed and all the nooks and crannies are perfectly cleaned.

5. Mighty Mug

If I ever had such a mug, I would never have to know how much a laptop hates contact with coffee and milk.

Mighty mug is just a gadget thermo mug. The one I tested had a capacity of 530mm, but the company makes cups in a variety of sizes and colors. The tried-and-tested mug of Mighty widened at the top and therefore didn't fit in my backpack pocket. It is made of stainless steel but has a narrow plastic "smart grip" mechanism on the bottom. This mechanism keeps the bowl in balance and sucks it to the ground. Due to this, with delicate tapping, it does not fall, but returns to its original position. Therefore, the risk of sloshing the contents is low. However, you must learn how to use it, because it can only be lifted by pulling it all the way up. This is a rather unnatural way of grabbing a cup that we usually tilt a bit (I only learned this when I started using a mighty mug that stubbornly stuck to the countertop several times).  

 The plastic lid has a standard entry safety mechanism that must be opened to access the contents of the cup. It's not as easy as with the button on the Stanley mug - it took me two hands to do it.

The cup is very dense, so in combination with the smart grip technology, there is little risk of spilling anything. It will keep you warm for a long time. The cup has to be washed by hand, but this is not a problem.